Some of the comments made on my last posting have caused me to think further about the larger dynamics suggested by the circumstances surrounding Juan Williams’ dismissal. Here is the dynamic I see at work. When I was born, the idea-driven world (academic, media, and so forth) was dominated . . . . Continue Reading »
Zagat, the restaurant reviewing people, have released their list of the 1,000 best movies of all time . The first three ( The Godfather , The Godfather II , and Casablanca ) are three of my very favorite movies (in reverse order), so I was pleased, though number five ( Lawrence of Arabia ) seemed . . . . Continue Reading »
The Center for Public Justice was founded in 1977 and since then has undertaken to articulate a Christian vision for public policy in the United States based on the principle of what I would call societal pluriformity. Recently its long time president, James W. Skillen, retired and was replaced by . . . . Continue Reading »
Tablet has a preview of Shalom Sesame , a new series in which Grover from Sesame Street will “explore Jewish identity, history, and culture for the American Jewish preschool demographic.” In this snippet, viewers learn about the famous rivalry between Hillel and Shammai, and hear . . . . Continue Reading »
Andrew Sullivan doesn’t own a dictionary. That is the only explanation that I can think of for why he doesn’t know the definition of the word “bigot”. Yesterday, he used the term a couple of times in reference to the Juan Williams affair . Today he clarifies his claim : . . . . Continue Reading »
“Turkey’s Islamists want to restore their country’s leading position in the Muslim world, in a sharp turn away from the country’s previous Western orientation (as well as its military alliance with Israel). For Germany, though, the revived arrogance of the Anatolian . . . . Continue Reading »
Suzanne Klingenstein of MIT reports on a new cache of Leo Strauss letters today in the Weekly Standard website. They confirm what I always have assumed, that Strauss’ work on Maimonides was intended to prove that the great Jewish legal scholar and commentator was a secret atheist. She . . . . Continue Reading »
[Note: Every Friday on First Thoughts we host a discussion about some aspect of popular culture. Have a suggestion for a topic? Send them to me at jcarter@firstthings.com] Since I was a boy I’ve been captivated by country music. But recently I’ve been dismayed by a disturbing trend in . . . . Continue Reading »
Tube supplied hydration and nutrition is deemed a medical treatment, like aspirin, surgery, or chemotherapy, and hence, can be denied or withdrawn under the law. Normal receipt of food and water, is not allowed to be withheld when it can be taken, since that isn’t medical . . . . Continue Reading »
Jennifer Fulwiler, atheist-turned Catholic apologist, runs Conversion Diary , a beautifully executed and winsome blog chronicling “what it’s like to be part of an orthodox faith after a life of nonbelief.” Several weeks back, she posted an audio file of her riveting yet refreshingly . . . . Continue Reading »
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